What is sin? A definition is a simple one provided by a dictionary: “an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law: “a sin in the eyes of God”.synonyms:immoral act, wrong, wrongdoing, act of evil/wickedness, transgression, “
So what are some of the sins that virtually all religions condemn? At the top of the list, of course, is murder. Jewish and Christian holy writings plainly say, “You shall not murder.” Major sin, that. Another sin universally banned is adultery. This one is not quite as bad as killing, but sleeping around on your spouse is not the sign of a moral person.
“You shall not steal”. This prohibition is enshrined in laws around the globe. What is yours is not to be taken by others illegally. Police blotters are filled with such miscreants. No false witness either, “you shall not lie”. Such is detrimental to civil discourse, when one or the other cannot stick to objective truth.
Our Bibles contain two lists of “deadly sins”: Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
- A proud look,
- a lying tongue,
- hands that shed innocent blood,
- A heart that devises wicked plans,
- feet that are swift in running to evil,
- A false witness who speaks lies,
- and one who sows discord among brethren.”
Additionally, Galatians 5:19-21 mentions several more sins to be on our guard against: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Just last week, Wednesday to be exact, a political pundit took the idea of sinning a “bridge too far”. On his MSMBC morning show, Morning Joe, co-host Joe Scarborough stated he prayed, “Jesus, forgive me for ever being a Republican”. Joe was a Republican congressman from Florida from 1995 to 2001, but renounced his affiliation with the GOP in 2017.
So an influential talking head is equating membership in a political party with sin, placing it in the same category as the seven deadly sins, and those condemned in holy writ. Am I the only one to see the totally unhinged character of this statement? To equate being a Republican with a sin on a par with some of the heinous actions proscribed by all religions is beyond the pale.
Some will respond with the trite, but still accurate, “but we are all sinners”. But does membership in a political party come under the aegis of moral failing? By making this assertion, Scarborough, by extension, condemns the 63 million who voted for the Republican candidate for President in 2016 as sinners in particular, who need to be redeemed because of their stance in an election.
Is this not the problem with our politics today? How can we “reach across the aisle” as most elected officials claim to want to do when one side or the other sees their opponents as unrepentant sinners? Instead of just being politically against the other, we see the other as morally lacking. No compromise or coming together is possible when that is our position about our foes, for no good person can tolerate evil or sin as represented by those on the other side.
Scarborough represents what is worst about our present political quagmire we find ourselves in. Only when we quit making moral judgements about those who differ from us will be able to make headway in working together to “make America great”.
Another subject which I will address does not rate an entire blog. A couple of weeks ago a liberal lady (at least it seemed likely she is a liberal, if not a loony liberal) named Danielle, tweeted this: “Unpopular opinion: white people love dogs so much because deep down they miss owning slaves. They love the owner and master dynamic, desperate for something to control.”
The recent trend in leftist circles is to paint all white people, especially those of us who are of a certain age, as racist rages on. This ludicrous take on the relationship of dog ownership and slavery ignores the fact that no dog owner in America ever owned a slave, and most are not even descended from slave owners. A cursory look at how we dog owners treat our dogs belie the “unpopular opinion” she espouses. No slave ever lived as good a life as our Paddy. We feed her the best brand of foods, allow her treats each day, even to giving her scraps from the people table. We constantly talk to her, pet her, take her on rides — she has her own seat in our SUV. When anything seems wrong, we immediately take her to the vet to get medicine. She is treated like a member of our family (actually she is one!), has multiple beds so she doesn’t have to sleep on the hardwood floor. Control her? — she will do what we wish, as long as she agrees with it!
What Danielle has is a warped view of both slavery and dog life. Perhaps she should get woke and get a real life herself.
P. S. We are now going to Dairy Queen so our Paddy can get her pup cup.